Zebby Matthews throws live batting practice for Twins

A limited hours before the Twins hosted the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night at Target Field they got specific good news regarding injured pitcher Zebby Matthews Though he s still recovering from a shoulder strain that he suffered in June and he s not quite ready to be activated from the injured list Matthews checked off a very significant box pregame by throwing live batting practice It was about pitches Matthews noted It felt really good There were selected ups and downs for Matthews throughout the throwing session He admitted that his control was occasionally impacted by the adrenaline coursing through his veins while facing live batters for the first time in more than a month All part of the process It s invariably tough Matthews noted You try to recreate the bullpen to make it as much like a simulated competition as accomplishable Once the hitter gets in the box it s inevitably a little bit different Just trying to feel good out there and then throw stuff in zone Maybe the greater part compelling part of Matthews throwing live batting practice was the fact that he pitched to injured rookie infielder Luke Keaschall who suffered a forearm fracture in April after being hit by a pitch To see him in the box was fun Matthews mentioned It s inevitably fun throwing to him Not surprisingly manager Rocco Baldelli wouldn t put a timeline on when either Matthews or Keaschall would return to the lineup only saying that he was excited to see them back in action They looked good Baldelli mentioned I ll kind of leave it at that The next logical step for Matthews in particular would be a rehab assignment with the St Paul Saints I would think so Matthews disclosed We will talk about it over the next couple of days As soon as Matthews is ready to return to the rotation the Twins will be happy to have him They are now without ace pitcher Pablo Lopez who is on the injured list with a shoulder strain and fellow pitcher Bailey Ober who is on the injured list with a hip impingement Not that Matthews is getting too far ahead of himself He knows better than to do that You have to be sufferer Matthews disclosed You can t rush anything Related Articles Twins Byron Buxton enters Home Run Derby field Once in a lifetime thing Twins Byron Buxton named to All-Star Challenge in home state of Georgia Twins come back twice but fall to Rays in series finale Twins ride bullpen in win over Rays Brooks Lee gives Twins a walk-off win for second straight day You have to be recipient Matthews reported You can t rush anything